A.S.K. is for non-crisis-related conversations with friends and peers. If you have any sense that the conversation or your friend’s well-being is beyond what you can help with, please seek out resources from our SOS page. 

When should I use A.S.K.?

Anyone can learn something new from the A.S.K. experience, no matter how good they are at giving support! When sharing, tell your friend something you learned and how you benefited from it. You can also talk about a specific part of the story you relate to or a feature you enjoyed. This will help sharing feel more natural and give context for why you are sharing it with them.

How do I share this with friends?

Active Minds is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and providing resources for mental health support, with an emphasis on mobilizing youth and young adults. With a mission to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations, Active Minds is a pivotal force in fostering a supportive mental health community.

Active Minds

Most young people turn to a friend first when they’re struggling, but nearly 70% of them say they don’t know what to do or say to help. That’s why SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios and Active Minds teamed up to create A.S.K. — Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch. Like “stop, drop and roll,” it’s an easy way to remember what to do when supporting the people in your life. The best way to help is to A.S.K.

The following youth mental health advocates collaborated with Active Minds and SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios to create A.S.K. They each brought their lived experience and expertise on peer-to-peer emotional support to the project, working to ensure A.S.K. serves young people from diverse backgrounds.

Thank you to our Partners!

The best way to help a friend is to a.s.k.

Mental Health is Health is a SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios initiative rooted in the reality that we all have mental health and need to take care of it like we do our physical health. Building on its decades-long legacy of mental health work, Mental Health is Health was launched in May 2021 to tackle the nation’s growing mental health crisis, particularly among youth and historically marginalized communities. The initiative aims to normalize conversation, create a connection to resources and inspire action on mental health through powerful storytelling and groundbreaking campaigns.

Mental Health is Health

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few.

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

If you’re struggling emotionally and need to talk to someone, you’re not alone.

Find a helpline. Free emotional support wherever you are.

Outside of the US?

Call or text 24/7 for a free, confidential conversation with a trained counselor.

The Lifeline

Get Help Now

Talking about our emotional struggles is the first step to feeling better. You can start by talking openly with a friend or family member, reaching out to a mental health professional or using one of the free, confidential resources below.

Show your friends how you’ve got their back with this checklist. Download this template and send to a friend, and don’t forget to tag @active_minds and @mtv.

Share A.S.K.

Help & Resources

Luna’s having a tough time.

Message with Charlie by selecting responses in the chat. This interactive exercise is a safe space to learn how to acknowledge someone’s feelings.

Let's practice!

Start the conversation and set the tone by showing them your full attention. Let them know their feelings and experiences are valid and that you believe them.

Acknowledge

Start the connection and set up a supportive space to process emotions.

Happiness

A person experiencing happiness might be feeling a variety of emotions.

Have you noticed any of these physical reactions while experiencing happiness?

Surprise

A person experiencing surprise might be feeling a variety of emotions.

Have you noticed any of these physical reactions while experiencing surprise?

Fear

A person experiencing fear might be feeling a variety of emotions.

Have you noticed any of these physical reactions while experiencing fear?

Anger

A person experiencing anger might be feeling a variety of emotions.

Have you noticed any of these physical reactions while experiencing anger?

Sadness

A person experiencing sadness might be feeling a variety of emotions.

Have you noticed any of these physical reactions while experiencing sadness?

Disgust

A person experiencing disgust might be feeling a variety of emotions.

Have you noticed any of these physical reactions while experiencing disgust?

Acknowledging Emotions

You may notice some overlaps between the core emotions. Context and our own experiences impact how we feel during and after a situation. We also might feel more than one emotion at the same time.

Core emotions

Hey, I'm Charlie.

A.S.K. regularly and consistently. Make a plan for reconnecting.

Keep-in-Touch

Ask if they want to catch up by getting lunch, working out together, or planning a movie night. If you're physically apart, schedule dedicated time for a phone call, video chat, or even text conversation!

Check-in with a friend

Make time to check in with a friend.

The key to maintaining connections is building trust over time.

Start the conversation and set the tone by showing them your full attention. Let them know their feelings and experiences are valid and that you believe them.

Show support by listening to them and affirming how they’re feeling. 

Support

The best way to help a friend is to a.s.k.

Help Charlie by selecting responses in the chat. This interactive exercise is a safe space to learn how to support a friend.

Show support by listening to them and affirming how they’re feeling.

Show you care by actively listening and validating their feelings.

Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. By continuing, you consent to our use of cookies as outlined in our <a href="https://www.activeminds.org/privacy-policy/" target="_blank">Privacy Policy</a>.

We value your privacy.

To continue browsing, please enable JavaScript and refresh this page.

Enable JavaScript

We’re sorry, but the page you’re looking for can’t be found. Please try checking the URL or heading back to our homepage.

Oops!

Rotate Device

Warning

Tablets are not supported.
To continue, please open the website on your desktop or a mobile browser.

Device not supported

It looks like your window is a bit small for our site. Please make your browser window larger to continue.

Resize Browser

Discover the Best Way to Help a Friend: A.S.K. - Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch. Learn valuable tips and find resources for providing meaningful support.

Experience | ASK | Active Minds

Looking to dive deeper?

A free, confidential resource for finding therapists and other mental health professionals. Available 24/7.

SAMHSA Treatment Locator

A 24/7 hotline that provides immediate crisis counseling for people experiencing emotional distress related to a natural or human-caused disaster.

Disaster Distress Helpline

A safe, judgment-free support service for LGBTQ and questioning youth who are struggling or thinking about suicide. Available 24/7.

Trevor Lifeline

A peer support phone service run by trans people for the trans community that operates from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST.